Everything to Know About That Abandoned Mall in "The Last of Us"
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Each episode of The Last of Us takes viewers to new filming locations and sets. In the latest installment, episode seven titled “Left Behind," we’re introduced to an abandoned shopping mall that plays a pivotal role in Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) backstory before she met Joel (Pedro Pascal). Naturally, there are tons of details to dissect—from the retro games at the arcade to the specific dolls in the American Girl store. Ahead, pore over how it all came to life.
Where Is the Abandoned Mall Featured in The Last of Us?
In a flashback, the episode centers on the night when Ellie’s friend and crush Riley (Storm Reid) takes her on a rebellious trip to a deserted mall—proving that, even in a post-apocalyptic world, the mall remains a thrilling escape for teens who are trying to find themselves. For their adventures, the production design team gave an empty mall in Calgary, Canada, a makeover. The mall “was completely stripped and didn’t have a second floor,” production designer John Paino told Variety. “We built the rooftops and the stores, but [when] they look from the balcony, it’s all CGI because our mall didn’t have a second floor.”
How Was the Mall Given a Post-Apocalyptic Look?
The production design team built a number of storefronts to resemble ransacked and forgotten versions of real retailers including Victoria’s Secret, Foot Locker, The Body Shop, the American Girl doll store, and what is presumably a Spirit Halloween. Of course, it comes complete with a food court (Panda Express, Subway, and more), a movie theater, and an arcade.
"It's fun making all these high-end stores that we had, and they're all broken down and everything," Paino told Insider. "It was a lot of fun social commentary. Lingerie, Starbucks, CVS, and Target—none of 'em survive."
The mall’s merry-go-round was originally part of the Canadian mall but was moved to a different one. So the design team rented it out, had it taken apart, and shipped it to the set. Instead of simply rebuilding it as is, they covered the ride’s existing rodeo-themed center panels with reflective ones “that were horrible and uneven to add to the hallucinatory feel because the whole thing is like a fever dream,” Paino told Variety.
What Are Some Can’t-Miss Details of the Mall?
The mall is packed with ties to the video game that the show is based on. Raja’s Arcade boasts the same name in the game with the same storefront. Inside, it features retro games—like Mortal Kombat and Tetris—that actually all work. The screens, however, all had to be rebuilt on LED screens so that they would appear on camera.
Those with a keen eye may have noticed the fictional movie that was coming soon to the mall’s theater: Dawn of the Wolf Part 2. A poster for it stands just outside of the theater, and posters for the franchise can also be seen in the game.
At the American Girl doll store, fans of the iconic brand can spot some dolls that weren’t technically available when the show’s apocalypse hit in 2003. This includes a doll named Makena Williams that was released in 2021. A bonus connection to the brand: Stormy Reid, who plays Riley and who you may recognize from Euphoria, was in the 2016 movie An American Girl: Lea to the Rescue.
While there are only two episodes left in the show's first season, we're certain the decaying mall won't be the last incredible set we see. Although, it'll surely be hard to top the wonders and story tied to the eerie shopping center!
You love set design. So do we. Let’s obsess over it together.
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